What is the correct pronunciation of the word Celtic?

Though the original pronunciation of ‘Celtic’ was with an ‘s’ sound, the ‘k’ (kell-tik) pronunciation came about in the 18th century and has flourished since. Now, the ‘k’ sound is the standard pronunciation of ‘Celtic.’

Is it “Celtic” or “Keltic?

I prefer “keltic” as the Celtic pronunciation to refer to the Celtic languages and cultures, and so all of the English-speaking Medievalists and Celticists (that’s “kelticists”) I know.

What is the origin of the word Celt?

The word Celt is derived from Keltoi, the name the Greeks gave the “barbarian” tribes along the Danube and Rhone rivers. The Romans borrowed the Greek name, but spelled it Celtae, and the word entered French in the form Celtes, from which English derives Celt.

Is “Keltic” the correct pronunciation of the letter K?

There are some who argue that “keltic” is the “correct” pronunciation because both Irish and Welsh use the letter C to indicate the sound represented by the letter K in English. This is a spurious argument since the ancient Celts did not refer to themselves as “Celts.”

What is the definition of Celtic?

Definition of Celtic (Entry 1 of 2) : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Celts or their languages Celtic music Celtic folklore

What is the etymology of the noun Celt?

The etymology of the noun Celt —from which the adjective Celtic is derived—is straightforward. It’s a 16th-century borrowing of the French word Celte, which itself is from Latin Celta, the singular of Celtae, which is the name for a member of an early Indo-European people from antiquity who spread…

What is the meaning of zooarchaeology?

Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word zooarchaeology. The study of animal remains at archaeological sites. Zooarchaeology is the study of faunal remains. Faunal remains are the items left behind when an animal dies. It includes: bones, shells, hair, chitin, scales, hides, proteins and DNA.

When did people start pronunciating \\K\\ as the default for Irish?

By the mid-20th century, \\k\\ became the norm, which is fitting since the pronunciation is in line with that of the Celtic family of languages that include Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, and the now-extinct (or, depending on who you talk to, nearly extinct) languages Manx and Cornish. Apparently, people appreciated the ethnic pronunciation.

Did the Celts call themselves Celts?

This is a spurious argument since the ancient Celts did not refer to themselves as “Celts.” The word Celt is derived from Keltoi, the name the Greeks gave the “barbarian” tribes along the Danube and Rhone rivers.

What is the origin of the Celtic language?

Definition of Celtic (Entry 2 of 2) : a group of Indo-European languages usually subdivided into Brythonic and Goidelic and now largely confined to Brittany, Wales, Ireland, and the Scottish Highlands — see Indo-European Languages Table.

Why do English speakers pronounce ‘C’ as hard as it is?

Think cell, cereal, ceiling, and dance. Nevertheless, English speakers, especially those who wanted to sound knowledgeable about things Celtic, grew to prefer the hard ‘c’ pronunciation, which harkened back to the words’ ancient roots. From the 18th century onward, more and more people began sounding the words with an initial \\k\\.

Why did the pronunciation of the word “Keltic” change?

Centuries later the pronunciation changed, because language, but it didn’t switch from “Seltic” to “Keltic”—it just added the variant, which then spread. So now we have two acceptable forms.